Education in Faith
GRADE 5/6 SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM
MINI VINNIES
THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD
The Community Spirit Award is presented at the end of the year to the House that demonstrates Community Spirit. Traditionally it has involved donations such as Caritas, Food and Toiletry Appeal and the Christmas Appeal.
This year we are also adding another aspect to The Community Spirit Award. Teachers will now be giving house points to students who demonstrate the School Values throughout their day at school. It could be in the Learning Space, on the playground, during Specialist lessons… All teachers will be looking for students demonstrating our School Values.
I already started this process last term, giving House points to the Grade 6s who assisted with the Junior Sports Night and the Junior Cross Country. House points were also given to students and staff that assisted Mia with her fundraising effort as well as Mia herself.
So our total points from last term for the Community Spirit Award: so far:
1st BOSCO 484
2nd MACKILLOP 410
3rd TERESA / PATRICK 329
Tuesday Mini Vinnie's gave out the Community Spirit Award point recording sheet to each teacher. They will then collect the sheets and give out new sheets each Tuesday, counting the points so we can give students and staff an update through Morning Gathering on Wednesday and parents will be given an update via the newsletter.
Can’t wait to see who is winning next week after our first lot of points have been distributed!!
Giuliana and SFS Mini Vinnies
Fifth Sunday of Easter - Year C
God is love! Love is all around
I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.
This week's Gospel is one of the most beautiful, yet challenging, in our liturgical calendar. Jesus commands us to love one another just as he has loved us.
What does it mean to love as Jesus loved? The love Jesus poured out to all was an expression of God’s love that has been poured out to all creation since the very beginning and continues to be poured out every day. God’s love does not keep score. When humankind turned its back on God, God’s love continued to call them back to faithful relationship. God’s love is not conditional – whatever we do, God continues to love us. There is no barrier that we can build that God’s love cannot get around. It is this sort of love that the new commandment demands of us.
The Gospel is taken from the Gospel of John. We hear words spoken by Jesus before his death and Resurrection. Jesus is teaching at the Last Supper.
John's Gospel follows the prediction. It can be read as a continuing explanation of Jesus' act of washing his disciples' feet. It begins with the announcement that this is the moment when the Son of Man will be glorified. Jesus will be glorified in his death on the cross and in his Resurrection, and the disciples will glorify Jesus in the love they show. This is a type of love that is shown in service and sacrifice. It is difficult to choose to love when faced with hatred and anger.
Jesus tells the disciples that all will know that they are his disciples because of the love they show for one another. “See how they love one another.” We see it in the holy women and men who live and love daily, making small and large sacrifices for others
Have you thought? Love
I love my dog! I love your hair! I love that new song! I absolutely love chocolate! We throw around the word ‘love’ so casually today that it has almost lost its meaning. The decision whether or not to say ‘I love you’ has become a major dilemma – or alternatively, just the formula that has to be said to get what you want! Jesus did not use the word so casually. He spoke of love very deliberately and very specifically. Jesus calls us to share in the selfless love that he modelled and to follow his example. Love surrounds us all the time.
Discussion Starters
Who are the people you love?
How do they show you they love you?
How did Jesus show us he loves us?
What does he ask that we do in return?
How can we show that we are his disciples this week?
Sacramental News and Dates
Please note the following dates could change due to Covid -19 restrictions.
| First Eucharist | Parent and Child Workshop Tuesday 12th July 6 pm at SFS | Sunday July 17th at 11:00 am at St. Kevin’s Parish | Reconciliation and Eucharist Practice at St. Kevin’s –Friday 15th July During School Time- Parents need not attend |
| Confirmation | Parent and Child Workshop Tuesday 2nd August 6 pm at SFS | Thursday August 11th at 6:00 pm at St. Kevin’s Parish |
Sacrament Levy
There is a $15 Sacrament Levy to cover the cost for:
- a guest speaker to conduct a Parent and Child Workshop for each Sacrament.
- professionally made stoles.
- a candle for children receiving reconciliation.
- children receiving First Eucharist and Confirmation to travel to St. Kevin’s Church for Reconciliation, Eucharist practice, and reflection day by bus.
This levy needs to be paid in full to the school in an envelope clearly indicating your child’s name, Home Group and name of Sacrament being received before or on the day of your Family Workshop Session.
God Bless
Rozeta Ambrose